If you have any questions about your ambulance bill, wish to make a payment or inquire about payment assistance, or if you have information to provide regarding your bill or insurance coverage, please call Andres Medical Services at 1-800-244-2345.

When calling, please have the patient name and the date of ambulance transport or invoice number ready for the customer service representatives.

Your address was sampled at random from a list of all addresses from the post office. This is a standard service offered by the post office. It is not a city government file and no household member is named in the file.

The City Council and staff will use the results as a progress report on how well the City is serving residents and delivering services. The questions related to customer service and quality of life directly measure areas that the Council has identified as strategic initiatives. Responses will also be used to evaluate City services and programs to make sure we are meeting the needs of residents and customers.

We have randomly selected households within our jurisdiction to receive the survey. We would also like to choose in an unbiased way a person within each household to complete the survey. This way we ensure the results are representative of our community as a whole. While it may seem a bit strange, using the “birthday method” is a simple way to select an adult from within each household without permitting bias in our results.

We would prefer that you complete the survey. The “birthday method” described in the letter creates the most representative sample of our jurisdiction. You’ll be surprised at how much you can contribute.

No, please don’t fill it out again. Because responses are anonymous, we don’t know who already completed a survey. Because we only want one response from each person, those who already sent in a survey should not return another one. The second copy is distributed as a reminder to all people selected to be sent a survey. Thank you for completing the first survey.

The sample was designed to be as representative as possible of the population of our city, so by sending copies of the survey to people who request a copy, we would skew the sample and make the results less meaningful.

We want to compare the demographic profile of those responding to the demographic profile of the municipality as presented by the Census. In order to be able to do this we asked our race and ethnicity question the same way the Census does. The census designates Hispanic as an ethnicity, not a race.

Whether or not you need a building permit depends on the type of project. Please see Chapter 15.04.030 of the City Municipal Code to determine if a permit is needed, or contact the city building inspector at 715-426-3427.

Residents vote in the district in which they live and cast their ballot at the polling location associated with their district. Please visit the My Vote Wisconsin website to determine your polling location.My Vote Wisconsin

Although the use of sophisticated technology allows signal light to operate more efficiently, it also introduces the potential for malfunctions to create significant traffic problems. Modern signal systems utilize electronic sensor loops to detect the absence and presence of vehicles. These detector loops are subject to the following modes of failure:

1. The sensors may not detect a vehicle waiting for a green light. This problem can be caused by a number of factors: a. Vehicles stopping behind or in front of the detector loops. Drivers should pay close attention to the "Stop Lines" (12" - 24" thick white lines) at a signalized intersection making sure they stop and remain stopped just behind the stop lines. b. The detectors may have malfunctioned due to a variety of reasons. Often, such a problem can be fixed by a technician visiting the signal controller cabinet and "resetting" the detector. c. Physical makeup of vehicle is not detected by loop. Although this problem has been reduced by advancements in loop technology, occasionally problems still crop up If you repeatedly experience problems with your vehicle being detected, report the problem to the Engineering Department. Some adjustments to the sensitivity of the detectors are possible.

2. The sensors may detect a vehicle waiting for a green light even though one is not present. This can cause considerable problems with mainline traffic during peak volume hours because the signal will give large unnecessary periods of "green" to the minor street cross traffic which really does not exist. This problem is most always the caused by malfunctioning detectors. Often, such a problem can be fixed by a technician visiting the signal controller cabinet and "resetting" the detector.

Contact the Engineering Department at 425-0900 to report problems with the signal lights within the City. For additional information about traffic signals, click here.

Newer lots in the City often have buried metal “property irons” at the corner of lots. A rented metal detector can help you to locate those. Older lots created quite some time ago likely only have “property irons” if a past owner or adjacent owner hired a professional surveyor to establish them. You may have documentation from when you purchased your property regarding the lot dimensions of the property and perhaps showing a physical location of your garage or home. From this information, you can approximate where the property lines are. One good step to take from a time/cost/neighborly relations standpoint is to talk to your neighbor to find out where they believe the property line is.

The only way for a property owner to accurately determine where his or her property lies is to hire a Professional Surveyor. Surveying firms are listed in the Yellow Pages. The City does not have a Professional Surveyor on staff and is unable to locate property lines for residents.

Some drivers have raised a concern that the tall grass in the median may block the line of sight for an eastbound vehicle to see a pedestrian in the crosswalk of the westbound lane. This is good in that it discourages that driver from unnecessarily stopping and increasing vehicle delays. Some pedestrians may think “so what” and not think that such vehicle delays can affect them. They can! If vehicle delays reach an unacceptable level, solutions like pedestrian tunnels, bridges, or signals could be implemented. Most of these “solutions” are less friendly to pedestrians who want to cross the road as quickly and safely as possible. Check out our fact sheet for more information.

A Circle (Cir) is a roadway containing a closed loop beginning and ending at intersections with the same street, or where the looped street closes onto itself, that is not interrupted by a through roadway. A Court (Ct) is a cul-de-sac of eight lots or less that is not interrupted by a through roadway.

The City of San Diego conducted a study on the issue in the 1970s, and the report conclusions are often cited as the first comprehensive study of crosswalk safety. Investigators in San Diego observed over 400 intersections during a five-year study period. The results demonstrated that during the five-year period, 177 pedestrians were hit in 400 marked crosswalks compared to 31 pedestrians hit in 400 corresponding unmarked crosswalks.

The study reported that "...more pedestrian accidents occur in marked crosswalks than in unmarked crosswalks by a ratio of approximately 6:1. Furthermore, comparison of the volume of pedestrians using the marked and unmarked crosswalks shows that the crosswalk use ratio is approximately 3:1. This indicates, in terms of usage, that approximately two times as many pedestrian accidents occur in marked crosswalks as compared with unmarked crosswalks. Evidence suggests that this poor accident record is not due to the crosswalk being marked as much as it is a reflection on the pedestrians' attitude and behavior when using the marked crosswalk..."

In a recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study of 24 intersections in the USA where stop control and traffic signals were replaced with Modern Roundabouts, there was a large drop in crashes. They have a 90% fatal crash reduction. Roundabouts reduce vehicle speed, minimize vehicle weaving, automatically establish right-of-way, and reduce points of conflict.

For more information about the safety of roundabouts or information about how to navigate a roundabout, click here.

Evaluation of sight distance at roundabouts includes both intersection sight distance and stopping sight distance. The fundamental principles of both forms of sight distance are the same at roundabouts as for other types of intersections and are dependent on vehicle speed. All City roundabouts are posted and should be driven at 15 mph. If you approach and travel through this intersection at 15 mph, there is adequate sight distance even though you cannot see through the center island.

The City of River Falls often receives requests to install signs warning drivers of the possible presence of "Children at Play." These signs are deceiving and are ineffective. Drivers should expect the presence of children in residential areas. Studies show that devices attempting to warn motorists of normal conditions or conditions that are not always present do not achieve the desired safety benefits.

"Children at Play" signs may give parents and children a false sense of security as the sign is assumed to provide protection, which in reality it does not.

Due to these serious considerations, federal standards no longer include "Children at Play" signs. Special conditions such as warnings of school zones, playgrounds, parks and other recreational facilities, do warrant signing, as these are not easily anticipated by drivers.

A stop sign is used to assign right of way at an intersection and to make sure that traffic flows smoothly and predictably. Because a stop sign is used to assign right of way at an intersection, it is not an effective means to control speeding. Research shows that where stop signs are installed as "deterrents" or "speed breakers," there are high incidences of intentional violations resulting in accidents.

When vehicles must stop, the speed reduction is only near the stop sign, and drivers tend to speed up between stop sign controlled intersections. When not required to stop by cross street traffic, only 5 to 20% of all drivers come to a complete stop, 40 to 60% will come to a rolling stop below 5 mph, and 20 to 40% will pass through at higher speeds. Signs placed on major and collector streets for the purpose of speed reduction are the most flagrantly violated.

Stop signs are not warranted in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) as an effective measure to reduce speeding. For more information about stop signs, click here.

Speed limits are often taken for granted and, until a problem arises, most people pay little attention to them. When traffic problems occur, concerned citizens frequently ask why we do not lower the speed limit. There are widely held misconceptions that speed limit signs will slow the speed of motorists, reduce collisions, and increase safety. Most drivers drive at a speed which they consider to be appropriate, regardless of the posted speed limit. "Before and After" studies have shown that there are no significant changes in average vehicle speeds following the posting of new or revised speed limits.

Traffic engineers and police officers examine many traffic and road conditions to determine a reasonable speed limit. Speed studies are performed to determine the 85th percentiles speed, or the speed that 85 out of 100 vehicles travel at or below. Other conditions evaluated include number and type of crashes, number of cars, pedestrians, and bicycles, along with physical conditions of the road such as sidewalks, hills, curves, lanes, driveways, intersections, roadway surface, and traffic controls.

Generally speaking, a safe and reasonable limit is set at or below the speed at which 85% of the drivers drive. Posting an appropriate speed limit simplifies the job of enforcement officers, since most of the traffic is voluntarily moving at the posted speed. Blatant speeders are easily spotted, safe drivers are not penalized, and patrol officers aren't expected to enforce unrealistic and arbitrary speed limits.

By October 15 of each year, property owners may receive a notice of unpaid city or utility service charges that, if not paid, will be placed on the annual tax roll for that property. The City was advised by the Public Service Commission that properly applied charges for service could not be waived. If you believe you have accrued these charges in error, please contact Customer Service immediately at 715-425-0900.

Garbage and recycling must be placed at the curbside (or alleyside) by 6:00 a.m. on the designated collection day. Garbage pick up times can vary week to week. Just because your garbage is "normally" picked up at 10:00 a.m. does not mean that you can wait till 9:00 a.m. to put your garbage out. If the Hauler abides by the 6am to 6pm pick up window, they are not obligated to pick-up garbage and recycling that was not curbside (or alleyside) when they arrive for collection.

There are a number of reasons why the City of River Falls has chosen to contract for residential garbage collection though one hauler including:

It is a sustainable practice reducing fuel consumption, pollution, and unnecessary damage to roads.

It makes our neighborhoods cleaner, safer and quieter with less unnecessary truck traffic.

Garbage trucks are the single biggest contributor to deterioration of our local neighborhood streets. Having one company's garbage truck travel down each city street rather than have four or more different garbage companies trucks drive down every street saves taxpayer money spent on road repair and maintenance.

We know who to contact if there is a litter problem associated with garbage pickup.

The monthly rate contracted for by the City is lower than would be obtained by individuals contracting for service. Talk to you friends in the surrounding townships and ask them what their monthly rate is. It only makes sense. It is most efficient for one hauler to pick up from each and every home in neighborhood rather than having to skip one that would be pickup up by another hauler.

No, the garbage hauler still needs to make their rounds past your house. Tracking weekly collections from each and every address would likely add more administrative cost than it would save in pickup costs.

Everyone should recycle. It's the law and there is no itemized charge for recycling. If you don't recycle, you should pay more. Advanced Disposal is able to sell recyclable materials whereas they need to pay to dump garbage in a landfill. Paying to dispose of materials that could be recycled and sold makes no sense. Furthermore, if you don't recycle, you will likely find your container inadequate and have to pay additional for garbage tags.

Yes, it is your responsibility to keep your address current. If you fail to provide the Court with the appropriate contact information, you may not receive proper notification in the future. This will result in a default judgment and further action may be entered against you. Please feel free to call or e-mail us with your new address.

To get a matter reopened, you must write a letter to the Judge explaining why you missed your Court date and request that it be reopened. The Judge may charge a reopening fee, ranging between $0 - $50, depending on how long after the Court date your letter is received and why you missed the court date. If the reopening request is more than three months past the entry of judgment, a hearing will be held before the Judge.

If this is the only suspension/revocation on your driving record, you must first pay your fine to the Court. Once paid, we will provide the State with the information. You must pay the Department of Information a reinstatement fee in order to have your privilege to drive in Wisconsin reinstated.

You may ask the Court to set up a payment plan for you. This is done on a case-by-case basis, depending on your individual circumstances and must be approved by the Judge. If you do not follow the payment plan to which you agreed, the Court will impose the alternative sanction (either drivers license suspension or jail) unless other satisfactory arrangements are made with the Court. When making a payment to the Court, make checks payable to: The City of River Falls.

The River Falls Police Department operates under Wisconsin's Open Records Law. Copies are $0.25 per page for 8 1/2 x 11 and $0.35 per page for 11 x 17. The review process usually takes 5-10 working days to complete. For further information click here.

Yes, fingerprinting is done Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. There is a $35.00 fee for this service. You must bring your fingerprint card with you, have it filled out in black ink, and have a valid picture ID. Please call the Police Department at (715) 425-0909 to check the availability of personnel to do fingerprinting. We cannot fingerprint for Wisconsin teaching licenses. Please go to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for fingerprinting information.

All requests for Police services are assigned to priority based on the seriousness of the incident and the potential for injury or damage to property. At times, calls of less urgent nature must be delayed so that we can respond immediately to emergencies.

Dispatchers are trained to try to get as much information as possible to best determine the nature of the problem and its seriousness. On emergency calls, the Dispatcher may have already given the information to Officer while continuing to ask additional questions.

The Police Department has an abandoned / junked vehicle ordinance prohibiting such vehicles from being left for an extended period of time on public or private property. If you think that a vehicle may have been abandoned or junked, please call the Police Department. Generally, a vehicle parked on private property without consent of the property owner may be ticketed by the Police, but removal is the property owner's responsibility. A vehicle parked on private property, (in violation of the ordinance), with the property owner's consent may be ticketed and ultimately removed by order of the Municipal Court.

The River Falls Police Department does not have a jail. Please contact the Pierce County Jail directly at 715-273-5051 or the St. Croix County Jail at 715-386-4752 to inquire about someone.

Another resource is Wisconsin VINE (WI-VINE). WI-VINE is an online resource where crime victims and the public can access information about offenders who are in the custody of the County Sheriff and also receive automated notification if the status of the offender changes. This service is provided by your County Sheriff and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections in order to keep crime victims and the public informed regarding individuals placed into the county jail.

Victims and other citizens can register for VINE (Victim Information & Notification Everyday) by calling the toll-free number 1-888-944-8463 or visiting the website. You will be able to register to receive automated telephone notification and/or email notification when there is a change in the offender's custody status. The Wisconsin VINE service is anonymous and confidential.

Traffic/City Ordinance Violation Citations are processed through the River Falls Municipal Court, located at 222 Lewis Street. If you have any questions about paying for a Traffic/City Ordinance Violation citation or you would like to set a hearing date, please contact the Municipal Court directly at 715-426-3429.

Parking tickets can be paid by mail or in person at the Police Department, at the Public Safety Building Entrance - 125 East Elm Street (this is a silver box on the wall).

The Police Department will respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week to requests for police assistance. Normal business hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. The Police Department entrance is open 24 hours a day with a direct phone line to the dispatcher.

Generally, all reports must be made in person. Contact the Police Department at 715-425-0909. An Officer will be dispatched to your home or business to meet with you. If you find it more convenient you may come to the Police Department at 125 East Elm Street to meet with an Officer.

A restraining order is a court order that orders someone not to hurt you, to stay away from you, move out of the house, have no contact with you or stop harassing you. Information about restraining orders can be found on the Wisconsin Department of Justice website.

Call the Police Department at 715-425-0909 or notify us. We have two speed trailers that can be used to collect data in your area that we can then evaluate the speeds and consider assigning directed patrol for speed enforcement.

The River Falls Police Department generally does not get involved in investigating or giving advice relating to this topic as they are usually civil issues and not criminal. One of the best resources for information on this topic is a booklet entitled "Landlord's and Tenants, The Wisconsin Way," published by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The booklet can be accessed by accessing this link: A Guide for Landlords and Tenants.

Yes! The importance of citizens calling to report crimes or suspicious activity cannot be overemphasized. Crime prevention and the solution to crimes or violations already committed depend greatly on information provided by citizens. The dispatcher who takes your call will ask questions about the activity to determine its nature and ask for a description of the people involved. Information such as a vehicle's license plate number, color, make or a persons clothing, hair, build, etc... are important. You may be asked if an officer may contact you in person for further information / clarification. You can also leave us a tip on the Crime Stoppers web site.

The City of River Falls partnered with a Boy Scout to make rain barrels for his Eagle Scout project. These barrels are now available for purchase at City Hall. The cost is $20 for a 55 gallon primed barrel. In addition, most home improvement retailers carry rain barrels. They are also available at numerous online retailers.

As a member of WPPI Energy, we have access to a portfolio of renewable energy projects developed exclusively for this program.

These resources include electricity generated by two wind turbines located on the Buffalo Ridge in southwest Minnesota, wind farms in Dodge County and Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin and Joice, Iowa, and a biogas-to-energy facility in Wisconsin's Fox Valley.

Electricity generated by the renewable resources will be fed into the electric power grid along with all other power sources serving our community. While it isn't possible today to deliver electricity from renewable sources directly to your home or business, your support for the Renewable Energy Program will enable us to increase the amount of clean, green resources that are a part of our power supply.

Although many renewable resources such as wind, sunlight, and moving water are free, the technologies for capturing this energy are still more expensive than traditional power plants. By choosing renewable energy, you help lower these energy resource costs and increase the amount of electricity generated from clean energy sources.

Every dollar you invest in renewable energy is used to foster the growth of renewable resources. Most of it is allocated to the development of renewable resources, such as additional solar and wind energy projects. The rest is used to build support for renewable energy among customers like you, as well as businesses and organizations in your community.

Broad support for renewable technologies across our communities and our nation will add up to greater demand, which in turn, will increase the investment made in renewable energy.

No. Although a municipality can, by ordinance, require property owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property, the owner of premises abutting a municipal sidewalk are not responsible to individual for injuries that result from the failure to remove snow or ice from the sidewalk. The long-standing rule in Wisconsin is that maintenance of a municipal sidewalk is a non-delegable duty and therefore, the municipality rather than the landowner is responsible for injuries caused by traveling on a snowy or icy municipal walk. However, municipalities are afforded some protection by Wisconsin Statute Section 81.15, which prohibits an action for damages for injuries sustained because of a natural snow or ice accumulation unless the accumulation existed for three weeks.

If a resident fails to remove snow and ice as required by ordinance, that resident is subject to a forfeiture if the ordinance imposes one, and the municipality can perform the work itself and charge the property owner for the removal as a special charge under Wisconsin Statute Section 66.0627.

Putting anything other than storm water in a storm drain is illegal. If you observe any illegal dumping please contact the Engineering Department immediately at 715-425-0900 or contact the Police Department after hours at 715-426-0909. If we can respond while the dumping is occurring or shortly after, we can hopefully contain it, prevent discharge to the river, and clean it up properly.

No, there are 53 known mosquito populations in the state of Wisconsin. Only one of those is the main carrier of the West Nile Virus (WNV), the Cultex mosquito. Cultex mosquitoes do not breed in deep ponds; they only lay their eggs in shallow stagnant water. They typically fly only 1/4 mile from where the hatch. Therefore, eliminating shallow, stagnant water will eliminate the breeding grounds for the Cultex mosquito.

The current standards of the City of River Falls call for storm water ponds to be at least four feet deep. The dry ponds and infiltration ponds within the City are designed to drain in 48 hours. Typically, mosquito larvae require four days (96 hours) to fully develop; therefore, the dry ponds and infiltration ponds are not wet long enough for mosquito breeding.

The development of an algae bloom depends upon local conditions and site-specific characteristics. But they generally occur where there are high levels of nutrients, principally phosphorus, together with warm, sunny and calm conditions.

The main source of nutrients in Lake George is sediment, which has accumulated behind the dams since they were constructed over 100 years ago. This sediment resulted from poor upland soil conservation practices that were generally followed prior to 1960.

What kinds of options are there for removing the algae? Is it harmful?

Typically, the first steps taken target the control of the external sources of phosphorus and can include: encouraging the use of phosphorus free fertilizers; improving agricultural practices, reducing urban run-off; and restoring vegetation buffers around waterways.

Lakes are very slow to recover after excessive phosphorus inputs have been eliminated. Furthermore, it’s extremely difficult to achieve recovery of lake conditions without additional in-lake management. This is due to the fact that lake sediments become phosphorus rich and can deliver excessive amounts of phosphorus to the overlying water. When dissolved oxygen levels decrease in the bottom waters of the lake (anaerobic conditions), large amounts of phosphorus trapped in the bottom sediments are released into the overlying water. This process is often called internal nutrient loading or recycling.

Alum is used primarily to control this internal recycling of phosphorus from the sediments of the lake bottom that result in algae. On contact with water, alum forms a fluffy aluminum hydroxide precipitate called floc. Aluminum hydroxide (the principle ingredient in common antacids such as Maalox) binds with phosphorus to form an aluminum phosphate compound. This compound is insoluble in water under most conditions so the phosphorus in it can no longer be used as food by algae organisms. As the floc slowly settles, some phosphorus is removed from the water. The floc also tends to collect suspended particles in the water and carry them down to the bottom, leaving the lake noticeably clearer. On the bottom of the lake the floc forms a layer that acts as a phosphorus barrier by combining with phosphorus as it is released from the sediments.

Coal-tar and asphalt based sealants are used across the nation to protect and beautify parking lots, roads and driveways. These sealants are used commercially and by homeowners on driveways, playgrounds, and parking lots.

Scientific studies have identified coal-tar sealcoat (CTS) as a major source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in urban areas for large parts of the nation. PAHs are a concern because several are suspected or probable human carcinogens and are also toxic to aquatic life. The research is still ongoing with regard to PAHs and there are no acute or chronic exposure levels in the US at this time.

Other communities are noticing elevated levels of PAHs in their storm water pond sediment and are finding that is it very costly to properly dispose of this contaminated sediment. In River Falls, we have over 90 storm water management ponds that collect sediments prior to water discharging to the river.

Asphalt based sealants are similar to coal tar in their use and application. Asphalt sealants are also cheaper than CTSs; however, their effective life is shorter at 4-6 years as opposed to 8-10 years. The main advantage is that pure asphalt sealants are not carcinogenic.

Due to the significant cost of PAH-contaminated sediment disposal, the use of CTSs could have future financial impacts on the City. We are asking for your cooperation in using asphalt based sealcoat if you choose to sealcoat your driveway or parking lot. If you are hiring a professional, ask which type of sealant they use.

The City of River Falls does not require a permit to discharge pool water. To protect the environment, the following “Best Management Practices” apply to water discharged from swimming pools and hot tubs:• It is recommended that discharge water be directed to grass and/or landscaping.• If irrigating on site is not possible, water may be discharged off the owner’s property, provided it is directed to a curbline gutter of a paved street.

How to drain your pool or spa:• Prior to irrigating or disposing of the water, shut off the chlorination system (if you have one) or stop adding chlorine.• Let the water in the pool or spa “sit” for at least one week to reduce the chlorine or bromine level until it is undetectable and temperature is at air temperature. Discharging chlorinated pool/spa water into streams in harmful to fish and other aquatic life.• Measure the pH. It should fall within a range of 6.5-8.5 prior to discharge. Discharge water should not be cloudy or discolored as this typically indicates a pH imbalance.• As the water is discharging, it must be monitored to ensure that it does not cause any erosion or flooding. Erosion is most likely to occur at houses on a bluff that discharge to the rear yard down the steep slope.• Discharges may not run onto a neighbor’s property or across a sidewalk• If a pool or spa has been acid washed, the water may not be discharged off the pool/spa owner’s property.• Water from backflushing pool filters should not be discharged to a stream, ditch or storm sewer. Backflush from pool filters must be discharged to the sanitary sewer or on-site septic tank and drain field system.

As rain falls to the ground it becomes known as storm water. Storm water that falls on pervious surfaces (grass, fields, natural areas, etc.) soaks into the ground without running off into streams and lakes. Storm water that falls on impervious surfaces (roofs, driveways, roads, sidewalks, etc.) is not allowed to soak into the ground and runs off into streams and lakes. As land is developed, trees are cleared and houses, buildings, and parking lots replace them. Runoff on hard surfaces occurs faster and in greater volumes. Increased runoff can create erosion problems, increase water pollution, and destroy stream habitat. Impervious surfaces also reduce groundwater recharge, which is a critical factor for cold-water streams such as the Kinnickinnic.

Check out our information sheet to find out about different types of storm water management features that the City utilizes to improve the effects of storm water.

The City of River Falls is responsible for all trees and other vegetation located within the boulevard area between the curb line and property line. Only the city is allowed to plant and prune trees within this area unless permission is granted by the City Forester and a site assessment is made. If there is an issue with trees or vegetation in the boulevard area notification will be given to the homeowner in the form of a door hanger prior to work commencing.

Residents are encouraged to water their trees if the City experiences an extended hot and/or dry spell. If your tree has any sucker shoots coming up from the base, you are allowed to cut these shoots off. Any other maintenance must be done by city crews.

The city tries to maintain a 4-5 year trimming cycle and plans to visit every boulevard tree at least once in a five year span, but due to excessively snowy or cold winters the trimming cycle may be altered. If there is an imminent issue involving the safety of the public (ex. large hanger, cracked tree, severe decay), please call 715-425-1697.

There are many factors that go into planting a tree in the boulevard. Tree spacing, overhead and above ground conflicts, and boulevard size are all some of these factors. Right tree, right place is the general motto. If you would like to have a tree planted by the city or plant a tree in the boulevard yourself, please call the Forester’s office and have a consultation to make sure that the tree you want to plant is the tree that should be planted in a particular location. The city will typically plant trees in mid to late October and new tree requests are typically fulfilled at this time.

The city will follow up with watering a newly planted tree at least twice after it is planted in October. This is usually enough to get into the winter months. However, the spring and summer following planting residents are encouraged to water their new tree as needed based on conditions. The city will also put a ring of mulch around a newly planted tree. By keeping this mulch layer around the tree while keeping the mulch from actually touching the bark of the tree will the tree from rotting at the base.

Our goal at River Falls Urban Forestry is to make a healthy, diverse, and resilient urban forest. Many years ago entire streets were lined with beautiful American Elm trees. Dutch Elm Disease swept through the area and devastated our elm population. Now 30 years later, we have beautiful ash trees lining some of our streets once again. Emerald Ash Borer could sweep through our area and devastate our ash population.

Since 2004, the City of River Falls has been striving to improve diversity in our entire tree population. We cannot limit the tree species we plant to one, two, or even five species. The new guideline for tree diversity has a target goal of no more than 10 percent of any genus of trees in a tree population. Our approved boulevard tree list has many trees both native and non-native in an effort to make our urban forest more resilient from the next large scale pest or disease. We encourage homeowners to also find new non-invasive species that they can plant on their private property to help strengthen our forest diversity.

Diversity. After the city’s last complete tree inventory, maple species made up nearly 35 percent of the boulevard trees planted in River Falls. This number is over three times the latest guidelines for tree planting. By limiting maple trees planted in the boulevard for the time being, this will allow the city to increase diversity through the planting of other species of trees.

EAB is very difficult to detect. Early detection is the key help minimize its effects on our urban forest. Currently there is no detectable EAB sign within the city, but that does not mean that EAB isn’t in the city limits. Infected trees won’t show much exterior stress until a couple years after infection.

Currently the closest confirmed EAB sighting is near Lakeland, MN along I94. Adult EAB insects can only travel about ½ a mile on their own; however careless firewood movement of infected wood could bring EAB here at any time. That is why Wisconsin and Minnesota have firewood movement regulations and quarantines.

The city’s last all ash tree inventory was conducted in 2012 and identified 2,053 ash trees on public property. Since then the city has removed several of these trees but there are still close to 2,000 trees on public property. This number does not include ash trees on private property.

The city has been preparing for EAB for over 12 years. The city stopped planting ash trees in 2004, and has made a concentrated effort to remove any Ash tree that is in decline in anticipation of EAB. The next steps we are taking to mitigate the losses from EAB are systematic treatment of high-value trees and in the near future, preemptive removal and replacement of smaller Ash trees that don’t provide the benefit(s) of larger, more mature Ash trees. These steps coupled with homeowners who wish to have their boulevard tree(s) treated should help minimize those “peak” years when ash tree deaths are at their maximum. At that time the city would then be removing “flagged” trees which are showing signs of EAB through the use of our contracted tree service provider.

Ash trees can be treated for EAB using a couple different methods. Some of these methods a homeowner can administer, and some require a professional arborist. The University of Wisconsin Extension has an excellent homeowner publication about homeowner treatment which is linked to in the Urban Forestry page on the city website. If you want a professional treatment, please contact a certified arborist. Remember, treatment for EAB must be done annually or biennially depending on the treatment administered. Treating an ash tree only once will prolong its life by only a of couple years.

The City is currently in the process of having a few high value public Ash trees treated for EAB such as the Ash trees in the Main Street boulevard. However, it is too cost prohibitive to have all the public Ash trees treated on a biennial basis. It is better to remove those trees and replace with a non-Ash species that would not have to be treated.

The city does allow for homeowners to have “their” boulevard trees treated as long as the city receives documentation stating when the treatment was administered, what product was used, and by whom. This data will be stored in our city tree inventory and would have to be updated on a regular basis. This is to prevent removal of treated trees when the city needs to remove infected ash trees.

Both standard hybrids and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) are powered by a combination of electricity and liquid fuels; however, PHEVs draw their charge from the engine and captured brake energy, as well as from the electrical grid when they are plugged into an electrical outlet. PHEVs also have a set of batteries that provide electricity to an electric motor, allowing the battery pack to be even further recharged by plugging-in.

PHEVs have traditional fuel tanks and internal combustion engines, so they do not face the range limitation of electric-only cars. As a result, the vehicles can travel up to 30 miles on electricity before using the standard, gas-electric operating system and get up to 100 miles or more per gallon.

There are prototypes in operation today, but there are no commercially available PHEVs on the market. There are also many conventional hybrids, from sedans to SUVs, that have been converted to plug-ins. Some are getting up to 60 all-electric miles per charge.

According to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), half the cars on United States roads are driven 25 miles a day or less. Consequently, a plug-in with a 25-mile, all-electric range could eliminate gasoline use in the daily commute of tens of millions of Americans. Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would only need to fill up with fuel a few times a year, versus the current 24 to 36 times a year on average.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) estimates that, with mass production, the cost of a PHEV battery will add $2,000 to $3,000 to the cost of a conventional hybrid. Battery costs are likely to fall with increased production.